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Hey I've decided on trying to replace the valve cover gasket in my 95 lexus es300... It doesn't look too difficult and it beats paying 400 dollars for a mechanic to do it. Doesn't seem to be a long job either. I just need a few questions answered before I bother to try it. I'm trying this tutorial I found online. This is the link: http://www.wjowsa.com/?p=30 1. Do i need to drain the engine oil before I do this? 2. Do I really need to leave the car off for 24 hours? I think that's basically it i might have other questions i can't think of though. I talked to my mechanic again over the phone he said i needed the valve cover gasket replaced and a plumbing gasket. i'm looking online and everything but i'm not seeing anything about a plumbing gasket. I guess i'll look into it in the diagrams... Is there anything else i'd need to know? I know i should get a degreaser engine cleaner, a towel to wipe it down some rubber silicone to help secure it better. any help would be appreciated thanks.

I replaced the lighter nothing, not working it might be the sha tray i got from ebay cuz the lights that light them up when the car lights come on don't come on for that one. I'll put the old one back in and see... I guess it's probably the wires gotta get in there somehow and replace it. The leaks i didn't seal them up because i couldn't find any. it has rained a little and i've gone through the car wash. still no signs of leaking and the back floor seats aren't wet anymore... The car has starting up issues sometimes. it comes on and all but then the engine stops the rpm drops to 0 as if i didn't start the car just merely turned it on so i can use th elights or radio... i think it might've been the cable that was attached to the gas strut. might need to tighten it or something. Someone else told me it might be my O2 sensor i'm not sure though. I still have to open up the drivers side window to check out that motor definitely a goal for tomorrow, because that's just a pain going through drive thrus. For the window washer does it use a motor? that might be why no liquids come out i'll have to look into that.

hey, does anyone happen to have a tutorial on removing the side door i guess. trying to check out my left front window motor to see if it's bad, and if so then i'd have to replace it... also for removing the dash if someone has a tutorial or that, that would be greatly appreciated. thanks for your time, and for your help

alright my power window switch came in... the passenger windows all work well even the back left window which on the other switch i had to apply pressure to get that window to go down... but the drivers side window is still not going down. the item was used http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/93-97-LEXUS...sspagenameZWDVW Now i don't know if it's the windows motor regulator being broken or something, or if it's just the button itself. i do have my old window switch here illl try to figure out a way to reroute it to a button i know that works and pop it back in the car and see if that window will go down or not... but other than that i'm at a lost as to how i would be able to test the window to see if it's the motor or the button Anyone have a possible pin out for the window switch on the drivers side? or a way for me to test to see if the buttons actually work or not. that would greatly be appreciated.

Replaced the Gas struts what a pain that was... I Tried to fix the cig lighter. can't find the port anywhere they're saying i have to go to the lexus dealership and all. I tried cleaning it i checked the connections they seemed fine and the fuse is new, but nothing... I don't know if it's the port itself or the wires that connect to it. I hope it's not the wires since the light for the port works... Spent too much time on the gas struts and the lighter to get anything else done... Tried to fix the window switch on my side but yea that thing is definitely broken, my new one should be here hopefully by tuesday. Also getting another radio and just gonna sell mine on ebay. also ordered the disc cartridge for the cd player. Just gotta take care of the leaks those engine issues need to be resolved, new brakes, new battery, need to fix that lighter, need to get the radio antenna to go up.... sigh costly costly costly

alright got the parts list and estimates on what's wrong with the car that would need to be fixed engine wise. This is with or without labor for some of the stuff can't remember. He's giving me documentation tomorrow. He said I need a: valve cover gasket which will cost me around 373 and I think that's with labor. my crankshaft seal is leaking at the bottom and that's going to be 275 with labor I need a o2 sensor which ranges from 100 - 200 and 75 for labor He said I would need a tune up which is going to be around 425 - 450 Motor mounts two of them 175 a piece and 200 to put them both in. I don't know which motor mounts he's referring to i'll ask him which specific one's but he said those will fix the jerkiness that occurs when i change gears sometimes or floor it or just driving... But he said i should get those done first along with the crankshaft seal since it's leaking at the bottom the gasket can wait... I took a look on autozone for the parts they're cheaper so i'll probably just buy the parts from there and depending on the labor try to find someone cheap to do them. autozone: Valve cover gasket: 25 to 45 Crankshaft Seal: 27.99 O2 Sensor: 65 - 125 Motor Mount: 33 - 112 Also found something on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...T&viewitem= 300 dollars and 24 dollars to ship it to me but... it's a timing belt package that would have a camshaft, a crankshaft seal, water pump, timing belt, valve cover gasket, and spark plug seal. so two of the 4 or so things i would need would be in that package but I wouldn't need the other stuff not yet... so it'd just be a waste of money right now. Gonna keep looking around and find a place to get the cheapest labor if possible. Yes the needles for the rpm monitor and the speedomitor don't come on. i'll look into the diy, not something big for me to worry about $100 dollars seems crazy though lol, also would need to replace the bulbs for the dash half of it are dim or going out. I don't know I'll look into it...

Cool thanks man will try to do this stuff on friday. was looking on ebay for gas struts. saw these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...T&viewitem= will try to order them tomorrow.

Thanks for the info yea i think with the floor that something has leaked there my friend said it might be a leak in the trunk like somehow water is trickling down into the floor mats and i should check under the seats also... I will try contact cleaner and see if that does help if not then yea i'll go find a switch... Gonnareplace all he fuses and get a mechanic to replace the dash bulbs seems like a pain if i were to try. Thanks for the info and the time man I really appreciate it, probably get most of these things done this friday and i'll let you guys know how it went.

Hey, I'm new to this forum but this seems like the best place to get info for my lexus. I purchased a 1995 ES300 from someone two days ago for about $2300 the car has 127,000 miles on it. and seems to be in pretty good condition. I took it to a mechanic yesterday there are a few minor issues around 4-5 or so that would need to be fixed but all in all it was a steal/good buy for that price. Anyways i'm having other issues also that i would like to get help on if possible. 1. The power windows switch for the drivers side does not work, i can control everyone else's window but my own also the passenger window behind the drivers side I need to apply force for that to work on my panel. Aside from replacing that panel since it is a switch maybe the wire is loose or it might need to be cleaned... I guess I could try that out first... 2. The hood will not stay open i see it's using some type of compressor method i don't know what it would be called... Could i resolve those or at least get those parts from autozone or a junk yard i guess would be best. 3. The cassette player will not work when i get free time i will try to take it out and try to fix it... I have to force the tape in there and eventually i get it in there has an ejecting problem aside from it not wanting to play. it tries to play then stops, tries then stops, then eventually switches to the radio. 4. Cigarrete lighter port is not working, my friend said it might be my fuse but he said they seem to be fine. I don't know how to remove the port to see if the wires are loose or something of that nature. 5. Passenger floors... This issue makes no sense to me both the passenger floors are wet/damp... I don't know if there was a spill and since it's been pretty cold lately it has not been drying up. I checked the sunroof area and of course the passenger seats but there seems to be no sign of rain seeping through so i am unclear as to how that could have occured unless it has to do with some type of liquid that passes on the under side of the car. 6. I need some type of rubber cement I tried one but it didn't seem to work around the back window and drivers side window there seems to be areas where water will seep through and i'm trying to patch those up. 7. a few of th elights are showing up dim like the speedometer lights and parts of the radio lights i don't know if it's fuse related or battery related. I guess i'll just replace most or all the fuses and that should hopefully resolve it. 8. there are a few other issues such as the car jerking a bit but the mechanics told me that would stop after they replaced some part i can't remember te name of, just waiting for a list of issues and an estimate from them. I think that's basically it can't think of anymore problems yet but if anyone could help me find tutorials or pictures or just can help me try to resolve any of these issues that would be of great help. Thanks for your help and your time.